I'm getting ready to put xp on my macbook pro so i can run some of my old apps from windows like my adobe stuff and my macromedia stuff... anyway... i was thinking, should i partition some space, a few gigs, to drag pictures and stuff to to be able to get to them on both windows and mac.. so a FAT32 format.. then format the windows partition to something that mac can't read, but will be better for windows... that way i can still get to files from both, but i have better performance on the windows side since it would be formatted in a newer better format? can i make both these partitions with bootcamp, then when i go into xp setup i just select the one only for windows to install on.. sorry for the long post, just trying to figure out the best way to do this. Thanks guys.
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Your opinion with partitioning please
- Thread starter fishy2k8
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Edit:
I re-read your post and realized that I didn't answer your question at all...
What you are saying is to make an internal external HD to transfer things. I think that sounds like a fine idea, unless you have an external in FAT32 to use already.
Feel free to read my response below, as it is still valid, and may provide a different solution to your problem.
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What I did was make a NFTS xp partition of about 100 gigs (I use xp for gaming). I keep files I need on both operating systems on an external FAT32, so both sides can read and write to it, and this works great.
However, if you do not have an external, I would make your windows partition FAT32. Like NFTS, you will be able to move files from your xp partition to your os x partition under os x. However, with FAT32, you can move files to your xp partition under os x, something that you would not be able to do if you formatted in NFTS. AFAIK, XP will not recognize you mac partition in either format.
SO, make xp FAT32 for that extra trasferable goodness, unless you have an external formatted in FAT32, in which case, make it NFTS.
I re-read your post and realized that I didn't answer your question at all...
What you are saying is to make an internal external HD to transfer things. I think that sounds like a fine idea, unless you have an external in FAT32 to use already.
Feel free to read my response below, as it is still valid, and may provide a different solution to your problem.
~
What I did was make a NFTS xp partition of about 100 gigs (I use xp for gaming). I keep files I need on both operating systems on an external FAT32, so both sides can read and write to it, and this works great.
However, if you do not have an external, I would make your windows partition FAT32. Like NFTS, you will be able to move files from your xp partition to your os x partition under os x. However, with FAT32, you can move files to your xp partition under os x, something that you would not be able to do if you formatted in NFTS. AFAIK, XP will not recognize you mac partition in either format.
SO, make xp FAT32 for that extra trasferable goodness, unless you have an external formatted in FAT32, in which case, make it NFTS.
i do have an external but it isn't formatted to be able to be read from both... here is why i am thinking about doing the multiple partitions... my dad said that the FAT32 format isn't as good as the NTFS format.. so i figured why not do the NTFS for the windows and them have the FAT32 just for file transfers between both. If i wanted to do this... will bootcamp let me partition the HD twice, for a total of 3 partitions on the 1 disk? thanks for your help.
You won't be able to partition it twice using bootcamp, but I bet theres a way to make a partition with no OS, like an external HD. I'm not sure how though. It might be as easy as just making a partition with the disk utility.
It's not easy and limits your future upgradability of Bootcamp - Sections 2.2 and 3.2 would be applicable here and instead of Linux you would need a middle partition thats MS-DOS FAT32
OP: Frankly, I'd recommend you reformat that external drive of yours to FAT32, despite what your Dad might think, FAT32 is your only cross platform option.
he knows that FAT32 is the only one that supports both, he was just saying that maybe i should make my internal HD into 3 parts: OS X, File Sharing (FAT32), Windows (NTFS). but i think for simplicity i am just going to use bootcamp and make the windows partition FAT32 and leave it at that.